From Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 5, Las Vegas comes to Cornell University as the part of the 84th annual Hotel Ezra Cornell. The students on the HEC Board of Directors have planned an extraordinary weekend that truly captures the excitement and luxury of Las Vegas. Guests will be treated to a star-studded lineup of over 25 guest speakers from Sin City and beyond, representing some of the top hospitality companies in the world. These speakers will offer their unique insights into the hospitality industry as seen through the lens of Las Vegas, with topics including:

Luxury in Las Vegas: Isadore Sharpe, President and Founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts,

Throughout the weekend, guests will have ample opportunities to interact with the men and women behind their favorite Las Vegas destinations, including Wynn Las Vegas, Fontainebleu, and The Stratosphere, as well as to learn about the exciting new developments in store for this Mecca of Hospitality.

Guests will also have the privilege of participating in interactive events featuring industry icons. They may choose to attend a wine tasting led by Greg Harrington, Owner of Gramercy Cellars; discuss food and beverage with a panel of industry leaders including Elizabeth Blau, Founder and CEO of Blau and Associates; or challenge their fellow guests in the 6th annual Culinary Mystery Box, culinary competition resembling Iron Chef. They might be so lucky to find themselves on a team with VIP guest Todd English, Owner and Executive Chef of Olives and Figs! And of course, what would Las Vegas be without gaming? Guests have the opportunity to engage in some friendly competition during HEC’s Poker Night on Thursday and Casino Night on Friday; perhaps they will find themselves at a table with Gary Loveman!

Throughout the weekend, guests will interact frequently with current Hotel School students. Hotel Ezra Cornell is, and has always been, entirely student-run. From arrival to departure, students work hard to ensure that your HEC experience is impeccable. Each of the seven meals scheduled for the weekend will be created and served by students. Your personal concierge, front desk agent, bartender, and casino dealer will be students, each of whom is eager to learn from the experience and expertise of industry leaders like you.

Program Highlights

Gary Loveman
Chairman, CEO, President, Harrah’s Entertainment
President of the world’s largest gaming company, Loveman is well known for Harrah’s 2005 purchase of Caesars Entertainment and creation of the industry’s most successful customer loyalty program—Total Rewards.

Isadore Sharp
Chairman, CEO, Founder, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Sharp’s premier leadership and focus of satisfying the customer has allowed him to create the largest luxury hotel management company in the world.

Brad Stone ‘77
Executive Vice President, Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Stone oversees the operation, design and construction of the company’s properties in Las Vegas and Macao in addition to playing a key role in the company’s financing and future developments.

Bob Boughner
CEO, President, Echelon Resorts
Previously the CEO of Boyd Gaming’s Borgata, a resort in Atlantic City, Boughner now oversees Echelon, a development on the Las Vegas strip.

Elizabeth Blau ‘97
CEO, Founder, Blau & Associates
Blau helped establish Las Vegas as one of America’s irresistible culinary destinations. She began by bringing Sirio Maccioni’s Le Cirque and Todd English’s Olives to Bellagio, and she continues to have a profound impact on the Food & Beverage scene.

“Challenges of Operating a Mega Resort”
The Operations Panel
Operations executives from the Las Vegas strip will discuss the challenges of operating some of the world’s largest properties in the world’s most visited destination.

“What Happens in Las Vegas...”
The Marketing Panel
Join us as we explore the evolution and branding of Las Vegas marketing including “What happens in Las Vegas...”

“Technology at Play: The Future of Gaming Technology”
The Technology Panel
Come and hear gaming technology experts speak on the latest trends and the direction of gaming technology.

Mark your calendars for April 2-5, 2009 for what will truly be a once in a lifetime experience.